FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (TCN) — A 63-year-old woman faces multiple charges after allegedly fatally starving and neglecting two of her adopted children before dismembering and burning their remains.
In a June 26 press conference held by the Fayetteville Police Department, Senior Sgt. Mickey Locklear said in November 2023, officers responded to Avantae Deven’s home to a report of a mental health crisis. While there, the victim experiencing the crisis told officers he had not seen his brother, Blake Deven, in five years. The victim reportedly said his brother had a broken arm the last time he saw him but was now dead.
According to Locklear, investigators learned Avantae Deven had adopted five children, including three boys who were all related to each other, as well as two unrelated girls. Police said at least three of the children experienced “appalling” conditions in the home.
The adoptive mother allegedly kept the children in small rooms, sometimes in complete darkness. Avantae Deven reportedly gave the kids little to no food, and they could “earn nourishment by doing paperwork,” which entailed writing hundreds of paragraphs apologizing for their misbehavior.